New era dawns for Westmeath senior footballers

Scheduled to go ahead at 2pm, there is some doubt about the fixture, at this point, due to the current cold snap but no doubt Hackett will be hoping that the game goes ahead and he gets to see his charges in competitive action. As has been signalled in recent weeks, there is a new look to the current playing panel with stalwarts such as Dessie Dolan, Martin Flanagan and Derek Heavin being omitted from the squad at this stage. Flanagan is currently engaged in rehabilitating gym work, in a bid to shake off persistent injury while Dolan's and Heavin's situtation remain unclear with possible returns for the National Football League campaign.Twice an All Star, Rosemount's John Keane does not appear to have had any change of heart on his stated retirement plans while Mullingar Shamrocks' Kieran Gavin is more likely to play for DCU on Sunday. A student at the college, Kieran will be rule bound to play with his academic colleagues in the O'Byrne Cup with a place in the League squad likely to follow. Undoubtedly, the new manager will be hoping to put his strongest possible team on the field in an effort to lift spirits at this early juncture. Victory on Sunday would see Westmeath travelling to take on either Kilkenny or Offaly while defeat would consign them to a run in the O'Byrne Shield. With the Lake County's first game in the league, against Donegal listed for just four weeks time, Brendan Hackett will be anxious to get off to a winning start and line up a couple of more competitive outings in advance of the Ulstermen's visit.